Gregorio raves about successful WSL hosting
PSC chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio congratulates Caitlin Simmers after emerging victorious in the WSL Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 in Siargao on Tuesday.
Photograph courtesy of PSC
SIARGAO — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio believes hosting the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour at Cloud 9 is a major breakthrough for Philippine sports, opening the door for Filipino surfers to compete on the world stage.
Gregorio described the competition as one of the biggest events in international surfing, even comparing its stature to the premier tournaments in other sports.
“If you talk about the NBA (National Basketball Association), this is like the NBA Finals. If you talk about Formula One, this is like Formula One. This is the French Open of surfing,” Gregorio said.
The Philippines Pro presented by the PSC was the 11th stop of the Championship Tour, bringing some of the world’s best surfers to Siargao before the circuit heads to Hawaii for its season finale.
For Gregorio, however, the significance of the event goes beyond the international attention it brings to the island. He sees it as an opportunity to develop local talent and give Filipino surfers a chance to measure themselves against the world’s elite.
Among those benefiting from the opportunity is 15-year-old Mara Lopez of La Union, who received a wildcard entry to compete against established international stars.
Gregorio pointed to the $13,000 prize money available to eliminated surfers as an example of the opportunities that international competition can provide.
He contrasted this with the roughly P80,000 prize money at national-level competitions, highlighting the difference in the financial rewards available to athletes competing on the global stage.
“These are world-class surfers who have never been given a chance to perform on the world stage,” he said.
Gregorio credited the Philippine government, headed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Vinny Marcos, Surigao del Norte officials, local government units and WSL executives for helping bring the competition to Siargao.
He also thanked WSL chief executive officer Andrew Stark for trusting the Philippines with the prestigious event, noting that Siargao had attracted the attention of WSL officials for around 30 years.
The PSC chairman hopes the tournament will encourage other surfing communities across the country to pursue similar opportunities.